3 ms·
Usually when a particular interpretation of a word renders it utterly meaningless then that interpretation is not the correct one. In particular circumstantial
by contravariant 5y ago
Usually when a particular interpretation of a word renders it utterly meaningless then that interpretation is not the correct one.
In particular circumstantial can mean 'pertaining to circumstance' or it can be one of several other meanings derived from the same root. One of which is its noun form "Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance", which sounds like a more reasonable interpretation. Or it may even be one of those words that only has a particular meaning in a legal context.
- bena 5y agoPeople glommed onto the idea of circumstantial meaning weak from police and legal procedurals. And since we are talking about evidence, we should be using it within the context of evidence. And in that context, some or all of the evidence being circumstantial has no bearing on whether or not it is good evidence. This isn't a matter of "other meanings [being] derived from the same root". There is no root. It's a misappropriation of a word from lazy television writers.
- jfrunyon 5y ago> good evidence > literally hearsay
- elliekelly 5y agoHearsay evidence can be good evidence, too.
- I_complete_me 5y agoI've been looking for an appropriate context to refer to a recently new-found word, to wit "polysemy". Is this it?